Softening device for shoes.



N. SCARPONI.

SOFTENING DEVICE FOR SHOES. APPLICATION FILED Aue.14, 1916.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

mira e sraras r rEN CE nAzzAREivo SCARPONI, or novE-R, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

sorrnnnve DEVICE FOR sHo s;

To all whom it may concern a Be it known that I, NAZZARENO SoAnroNI, of Dover, in the county of Strafford and State of New Hampshire, a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Softening Devices for Shoes, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification in explaining its nature. 7

The present invention relates to a softening device for treating shoes during the process of their manufacture and more especially to a device for moistening and there by softening the toe portion of the upper preparatory to thelasting of the shoe. The moistening and softening operation consists generally in inserting the toe portion of the upper and adjacent fore part of the inner sole of the shoe into the chamber of a steam box where the parts will be subjected to the influence of steam introduced into the box orbother hot aqueousvapor therein.

I The process is accompanied with many difliculties prominent among which is the danger of injuring. the' upper orthe sole depending upon which is subjected to the most direct influence of the steam. Conditions which result in a-satisfactory softenof the upper tend also to soften the sole, thus making the sole unworkable. When live steam is employed the escape of the steam around the opening through which the toe is inserted is also an objectionable feature. g

It is accordingly among the objects of my invention to overcome in a very simple way and even when live steam is employed, all of the difliculties above referred to. In other words, by my present device I am enabled to eliminate all danger of injuring the upper or the sole. I am enabled, also, to soften only the upper without affecting the sole and am. also enabled to prevent the escape of the steam. q

The invention can best be seen in the light of the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is a section on theline 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings '1 represents a receptacle for containing the softening Specification of Letters Patent. PatentedDec, 26, 1916, Application filed August 14, 19 16. Serial No. 114,742.

agent. Inasmuch as steam is the agent I prefer to employ, the receptacle may be characterized as a steam-box, steam being supplied to the chamber of the receptacle or box through a pipe 2 arranged in the bottom thereof. The receptacle or box has in the side 3 thereof one or more openings 4rthrough which the toe portion of the shoe is inserted to lie within the chamber of the box. I prefer that the side 3 of the box be fitted with a plurality of these openings in order to accommodate a number of shoes, and I prefer, also, for puposes of convenience, that the side 3 of the box he removable in order that the shoes may be inserted within the openings and then the side applied to complete the box, the removable side being then secured in any suitable manner.

' For purposes of illustration I have shown a shoe with the toe inserted within the chamber of the box, 5 indicating the upper of the toe portion or that to be softened, and 6 the sole portion of the toe which, as later will be explained, is not acted upon by the softening agent. I

7 is a guard provided with a flanged edge 8 by which it is secured to the side 3 of the box. The retention of the guard is such that the guard proper will extend from the lower edge of the opening through which the shoe is inserted and bear snugly against the entire inserted portion of the sole, or that which would otherwise be subjected to the influence of the steam or softening agent. The guard is made of some substance impervious to the passage of steam through it and is preferably made of metal. The g iard is also preferably made of some resilient substance or metal in order that it may bear with tension against the inserted toe portion of the shoe and thereby by its pressure hold the shoe in place within the opening, the action of theguard then operating to press the shoe against the opposite wall of the opening. The shoe is also supported in practice outside the receptacle or box by a suitable support .(not shown) on which the heel or instep of the shoe may rest. Anv suitable device may be employed for this purpose. v I

Secured to the side 3 of the receptacle or box is a curtain 9 made preferably in the form of a pocket to envelop the entire inserted toe portion of the shoe and the guard and make closed connection with the edge or the edges of the opening and there be secured in any suitable manner. This curtain is made of any suitable substance, preferably of a flexible fibrous nature, which will protect the upper of the inserted toe portion from the direct contact of the steam or, heated softening agent, which might otherwise injure it, permitting, however, the passage through it of the heated aqueous vapor sutiicient to soften the upper without injuring it. In practice I have found a medium heavy canvas cloth to be well fitted for such purpose, the canvas being simply tacked to the side of the box around the opening in it. not only acts to protect the upper from the direct contact of the steam, but also prevents the escape of steamfrom the chamber of the box through the opening as might otherwise be the case, owing to the fact that unless special provision be made steam will escape through the opening around the shoe.

In the operation of the device the pocketforming curtain which envelops the toe acts as above described to protect the toe from the direct contact of the steam, but permits of the passage through it of the aqueous vapor modified in such manner that it will operate to properly soften the upper without any danger of injuring it. VVereit not for the guard the softening agent or vapor might operate to soften the sole of the inserted portion of the shoe, which is very undesirable, and this is prevented by the close-fitting guard which prevents the steam or aqueous vapor contacting with the sole, the sole, in other words, being maintained in its original dry state so that the shoe may be immediately worked upon during the ensuing lasting operation.

Having thus fully described my inven tion, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a device of the character specified, the combination comprising a receptacle having in it an opening through which the toe portion of a shoe may be inserted to lie within the chamber of said receptacle, means whereby steam may be supplied to the chamber of said receptacle, a guard impervious to the passage of steam arranged to closely engage the sole of said inserted toe portion of the shoe whereby the steam or hot aqueous vapor arising therefrom may not engage said sole and soften the same, and a curtain arranged to envelop the upper of said inserted sole portion of theshoe for protecting the same from the direct contact of the steam but permitting the passage through it of heated aqueous vapor sufficient to soften said 'uppenwithout injuring it.

The curtain thus arranged In a device of the character specified, the combination comprising a steam bOX having in it an opening through which the toe portion of a shoe may be inserted to lie within thechamber of said box, means whereby steam may be supplied to the chamber of said box, a metallic guard arranged to closely engage the sole of said insorted toe portion of the shoe, and a cloth curtain arranged to envelop the upper of said inserted sole portion of the shoe.

3. In a device of the character specified, the combination comprising a receptacle adapted to receive the toe portion of a shoe within the chamber therein, means for supplying said chamber with a softening agent, and a guard impervious to the passage of said softening agent covering the sole of said inserted toe portion of the shoe and in close contact therewith whereby the softening agent cannot contact with the sole and soften it.

a. In. a device of the character specified, the combination comprising a receptacle adapted to receive the toe portion of a shoe inside the chamber thereof, means for supplying steam to said receptacle, and a pocket forming a curtain arranged to envelop the upper of said inserted sole portion of the shoe for protecting it from the direct contact of the steam but permitting the passage of heated aqueous vapor therethrough sufficient to soften said upper without injuring it.

5. In a device of the character specified, the combination comprising a receptacle having in it an opening through which the toe portionof a shoe may be inserted to lie within the chamber of said receptacle, means whereby steam may be supplied to the chamber of said receptacle, and a curtain having the general form of a pocket for receiving within it said inserted portion of the shoe and making closed contact with said receptacle around the edge of the opening therein.

6. In a device of the character specified, the combination comprising a receptacle having in it an opening through which the toe portion of a shoe may be inserted to lie within the chamber of said receptacle, means for supplying the chamber of said receptacle with a softening agent, and a resilient guard arranged to bear with tension against the sole of said inserted portion of the shoe protecting it from the softening agent and holding the shoe within said opening, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the character specified for softening the toe portion of a shoe, means for subjecting the upper of said toe portion to the influence of a softening agent, and means impervious to said softening agent making close contact with the sole of said toe portion of the shoe whereby said softening agent may not engage the sole and soften it.

8. In a device of the character specified 5 for softening a portion of a shoe, means whereby the said portion of the shoe may be subjected to the influence of a steam bath,

and other means enveloping and protecting said portion of the shoe to be softened from the direct contact of the steam but permitting the passage through it of heated aqueous vapor to envelop said portion of the shoe to be treated and thereby soften it.

NAZZARENO SCARPON I.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

